But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

The portion of scripture selected for our devotional today is from the Olivet Discourse, the message that Jesus gave on Monday afternoon of "Passion Week", the week of our Lords crucifixion.

In response to a question from His disciples, Jesus was explaining what will happen during the seven year Tribulation Period that leads up to the Second Coming of our Lord.

The disciples had asked the Lord for some "signs" of His Second Coming, His return to the earth to set up His kingdom, Mark 13:4.

Remember these are Jews asking for "signs" of the Second Coming. I Corinthians 1:22reveals that God will give the Jews "signs"; however, "signs" are not for Christians.

We're not looking for "signs", we are listening for a "sound", the sound of the trumpet, the Lord's shout and the voice of the archangel, I Thessalonians 4:16, and we go to the heavenlies to ever be with the Lord.

By the way, there is not one prophecy that must be fulfilled before the Rapture. All prophecies yet to be fulfilled come after the Rapture.

Now back to the "signs" for the Jews, Jesus told them, verse 14, when you see the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the prophet Daniel, Daniel 9:27, they were to flee to the mountains.

The "abomination of desolation" is when the Anti-christ walks into the Temple, into the "holy of holies" and claims to be God, II Thessalonians 2:4. That is when the Temple is desecrated. That happens at the mid-way point of the Tribulation Period, some three and one half years after the Rapture.

This then means that there must be a temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the first part of the Tribulation Period. All preparations have been made for a temple to be erected and go into full operation, today.

For the first time in history, all that needs to be done to fulfill the Lord's prophecy is in place. The Lord also gave additional information to describe when this all would happen, verse 22, when false teachers and false prophets were actively using signs, wonders and miracles to deceive and seduce the world.

This passage of scripture describes our day, today, which seems to indicate that we are so close to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Only one thing has to happen before all of these prophecies will be fulfilled, the Rapture of the Church, which could happen at any moment.

Prayer Thot: Perhaps today will be the day, Jesus, that You shout for us to join You in the heavenlies. Even so come, Lord Jesus, and help me to live in that expectancy.